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(No Model.)

L. M. FITCH.

END GATE FASTENING. N0. 261,146. Patented July 18, 1882.v

' INVENTOR.

WITNESSES: S

- WV Oiw/W%f7 H: ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAUREN M. FITCH, OF ROME, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROME SPRING WAGONCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

EN D-GATE FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,146, dated July 18,1882.

Application filed April 15, 1882. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAUREN M. FrroH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rome, in the county ofOneida and State ofNew York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Wagon EndBoards or Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements infastenings for end boards or gates of wagon-bodies,and has for itsobject the production of a cheap, simple, and durable fastening soarranged as to be easily manipulated while not being in the way; and tothis end the invention consists in the combination of a hinged orpivoted end-gate,-having metallic straps or latches pivotally secured toits inner sides and near its ends, and metallic clips secured to theinner side of the wagon box or body, with which said straps or latchesare adapted to engage, all as will be hereinafter fully described, andset forth in the claim hereto annexed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 represents a top view or plan; Fig. 2, asectional view; Fig. 3, an inside view; Fig. 4, a rear end'view; Fig. 5,a detailed view.

In the drawings, A represents the wagon box or body, and Betheend boardor gate, secured thereto in the usual manner by the usual hingedmetallic straps.

O 0 represent metallic straps or latches pivotally secured to the innerside, near the top ends of the end board or gate, by bolts 0, passingthrough said straps or latches and end board or gate, and secured bynuts a, or riveted thereto, or held by a screw or such other practicalmeans as may be deemed most desirable, all as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

D D represent metallic clips secured to the inner sides of thewagon-body near the corners thereof or near the end opening, whichcorners of the box may be square or round, as shown, and when theend-gate-is closed the free ends of the latches or straps are forceddown between the clips and the wagon-body, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,thus securing the end-gatein its closed position.

The above-described construction forms a very strong and efl'ectivefastening, as when any pressure is brought to bear on the end gate orboard when closed the strain is brought to bear on the outer or freeends of the straps or latches O O, which strain or pressure will come011 the wagonbody, and also on the clips D D, thereby to a great extentrelieving the pivotal points of the straps or latches from any strain,and while being arranged on the inside of the wagon box or body they areout of the way, and not liable to be interfered with, get out of place,or cease to be efticient for the purpose intended. These can also beused upon an end or tail board not connected by hinges to the body ofthe wagon, ifdesired.

Instead of having the metallic clips D, me-

tallic sockets D may be used, having side flanges, through which passbolts or screws for securing them in position, or any other me chanicalor practical means; and the metallic straps or latches and aretaining-spring or other suitable device may be arranged therein, ifdeemed expedient, to keep the strap or latch in position, provided withprojecting lugs adapted to fit in said sockets, all as clearly shown inFig. 5.

I am aware that corner-iron end pieces having projections with whichpivoted hooks connected to the end-gate are adapted to engage are old;and such I do not wish to claim as of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new,'anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a wagon-body having metallic clips D D secured to itsinner side near the end-gate opening thereof, and the endgate having thepivoted metallic straps or latches secured to the inner side and nearits ends, which straps or latches pass between the clips and wagon bodywhen the gate is closed, substantially in the manner herein shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAUREN M. FITCH.

Witnesses:

O. D. Pansoorr, LoUrs ROTH.

